Week 13 featured a full 16-game slate, meaning every team got a chance to show up. It was capped off by a 79-point Monday Night Football game that decided many fantasy matchups. Week 14 is the last week of the fantasy regular season, so now is the time to make one last hoorah to sneak into the playoffs. These are fantasy football lessons to take into Week 14.
Fantasy Football Lessons to Take Into Week 14
It’s the Bucky Irving Show in Tampa
Last season, Rachaad White was an excellent fantasy running back. He finished as the RB4 in total points, primarily due to his elite receiving volume. White caught 64 passes, which made him a premium option in PPR formats. However, he struggled as a runner. He only averaged 3.6 yards per carry despite totaling 272 carries.
The Buccaneers prepared by using a fourth-round on Bucky Irving, which has paid off. Irving earned more touches throughout the season due to his efficiency. Regarding snap share, it is a committee between the two, but Irving has recently dominated the touches. Since their bye week, he has 46 touches to White’s 25, including 25 carries and 152 yards last week against Carolina.
Irving faces the Panthers again and the Cowboys in the last two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. Those are two of the bottom three teams in fantasy points allowed to running backs. Irving has been the RB4 in points per game in the past four weeks, and all signs point to him being a top-12 fantasy back for the rest of the season.
Terry McLaurin is Steal Of the Season for Wide Receivers
Terry McLaurin is a supremely talented receiver. Although the quarterback play in Washington has been inconsistent throughout his tenure there, he has still had over 900 yards in every season of his career. He slid down draft boards last season due to struggling at points. McLaurin ended up with an ADP of 71.6, which made him WR31.
With a quarter of the season to go, he is making everyone look like fools. Jayden Daniels has further unlocked McLaurin’s potential. He’s already at a career-high of nine receiving touchdowns. McLaurin is currently the WR4 and has had four games of over 20 points.
He’s now a lineup lock after coming into the season as a fringe flex option. McLaurin has thrived in an offense that puts up a lot of points but has no other standout target. He’s this season’s D.J. Moore.
Brock Bowers is Already a Superstar
Much has been said about rookie tight end sensation Brock Bowers, but it still isn’t enough. What he is doing is genuinely unprecedented. He’s leading the league in receptions and is fourth in yards. No, not amongst tight ends or rookies; those are his ranks straight up.
Bowers is doing this with arguably the worst quarterback room in the NFL and on a struggling team. He’s the TE1 by over 33 points and has scored over 30 in two of his last three games. The Las Vegas Raiders still have to play the Buccaneers, Jaguars and Saints in the coming weeks, all of which have defenses that are either banged up or have struggled this season.
It will be interesting to see what Bowers looks like in the future on a team with more target competition, but regardless he is far and away the TE1 in dynasty leagues. Expectations were tempered coming into the season due to his situation, but Bowers has passed every test with flying colors.
Main Photo Courtesy of Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
